Barclays Bank is to close its branch in Nelson by the end of the year – leaving the village without a bank.
From Friday, December 16, customers of the bank will have to travel to the branch in Ystrad Mynach.
The move, made with no prior consultation, has prompted an angry response from Caerphilly’s Member of Parliament and Assembly Member.
Barclays has said its decision to close the branch was a result of fewer people using it and that in the run-up to the closure, it will be “proactively engaging with local businesses and the wider community” on alternative ways to bank with it.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David said: “Barclays’ attitude is totally unacceptable. Barclays should have consulted with its customers and local people, and their representatives, before any decision was taken. Barclays must think again.”
Labour colleague and AM Hefin David added: “The high-handed attitude of Barclays is unhelpful. It is ridiculous that Barclays are now asking us about the impact of the closure on the local community when they have said that a decision has already been taken.”
Nelson’s Labour councillor Sean Morgan called the closure a devastating decision.
He said: “I would urge the banks’ leaders to rethink this decision as there is ample opportunity to save costs by downsizing this branch without leaving the community bereft of the many services the bank offers.”
Adrian Davies, Barclays Community Director for the region, said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.
“At Barclays Nelson branch, customer usage has continued to decline and 34% of our customers now regularly use alternative branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it.
“We hope that the availability of our other Barclays branch at Ystrad Mynach, and access to services at the local Post Office located at 3 Wern Crescent, Treharris, along with our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers.”
The decision of Barclays is the latest banking blow to communities in Caerphilly County Borough.
HSBC closed its branch in Bargoed two years ago and also closed its Risca branch in June this year.
Over the last two years, HSBC and Barclays closed their branches in Newbridge, with Lloyds to follow suit on October 11 this year.